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The Wasmann Journal of Biology Vol. 12, No. 2, Summer 1954

Polychaetous Annelids as Associates and Predators of the Crustacean Wood Borer, Limnoria

THE WASMANN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY
VoL. 12, No. 2
Polychaetous Annelids as Associates
and Predators of the Crustacean
Wood Borer, Limnoria1
SUMMER, 1954
DONALD J. REISH, Allan Hancock Foundation,
Unive1·sity ot Southent California, Los Angeles 7,
Califo?·nia
Rathke (1799 ) mentioned in connection with the original de­scription
of Limnoria lignorum Rathke that the young of small
nereid polychaetes are the worst enemies of Limnoria because
they are able to enter the burrows and eat the larvae. Since this
report there has been mention neither of his observation by sub­sequent
authors nor of the discovery of any new predators of
Limnoria. It has been considered secure from preying animals
because there were very few animals found associated with it
(Henderson, 1924). Polychaetes as associates of Limnoria have
not been discussed in the past.
It was found that the polychaete N ereis grubei (Kin berg) would
readily eat Limnoria under laboratory conditions. To determine
whether or not polychaetes eat Limnoria in nature, the food
habits of the polychaetes associated with L. lignorum in Coos
Bay, Oregon, and L. tripunctata Menzies in Los Angeles Harbor,
California, were studied. The results of these observations are
reported herein.
The author wishes to thank Dr. Robert J. Menzies for his
assistance identifying the species of Limnoria. To the adminis­tration
of the Allan Hancock Foundation, the author is indebted
for material aid during the course of this study.
I. Contribution number 1.42 from Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern
California.
Received for publication January 22 , 1954.
[ 223]
224 THE WASMANN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, VoL. 12, 1954
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Large samples of wood infested with Limn01·ia were collected
from Coos Bay during August, 1950, and from Los Angeles Har­bor
· during September, 1950. The material was brought to the
labor·atory where the polychaetes were taken from the wood.
The worms were then isolated into individual dishes to determine
what each animal had been eating. Fecal pellets of these worms
were collected for a week or more for the identification of undi­gested
material.
OBSERVATIONS
Coos B.H: Six species of polychaetes were taken from pilings
infested with L. ligno1·um. These species were li alosydna brevi­setosa
Kinberg, Eulalia aviculiseta Hartman, T1·ypanosyllis ada­manteus
Treadwell, Typosyllis sp., N ereis vexillosa Grube, and
Bocca·rdia proboscidea Hartman. Exoskeletons of L. lign01·um
were observed in one of seven specimens of H. brevisetosa and five
of nineteen individuals of N. vexillosa. In addition, these worms
had eaten diatoms, other crustaceans, and debris. The remaining
four species showed no evidence of having fed on L. lignorum.
Los ANGELES HARBOR: Eight different species of polychaetes
were found associated with L. tripunctata. These species were
Halosydna johnsoni (Darboux ), Eulalia aviculiseta, Poda1·ke
pugettensis Johnson, N e1·eis grub ei, N. latascens Chamberlin,
Platyne·reis agassizi (Ehlers), Cir·rifonnia luxu1·iosa (Moore),
and Polydom (Camssia) paucibmnchiata Okuda. Exoskeletons
of Limn01·ia tt·ipunctata were present in the feces of two of the
twenty-six specimens of H alosydna johnsoni, one of thirteen in­dividuals
of Podm·ke pugettensis, and two of eleven worms be­longing
to N e1·eis g1·ubei. The fecal pellets of these three species
also contained diatoms, crustacean exoskeletons other than of
L. t1·ipunctata, and debris. The r emaining fiv e species showed no
evidence of having fed on L. tripunctata.
While collecting the infested wood from Los Angeles Harbor,
it was observed that two of the six specimens taken of the poly­clad
turbellarian Leptoplana limn01·iae Hyman [identified by Pr.
r~ . H. Hyman l showed evidence of having eaten L. t?-ipunctata.
ASSOCIATES AND PREDATORS OF LIMNORIA-REISH 225
DISCUSSION
With the exception of the early observation by Rathke referred
to above, there has been no subsequent report of predators of
Limn01·ia. As stated by Henderson ( 1924, p. 319), "Limnoria is
apparently comparatively free from the dangers of parasites or
other preying organisms, as very few associated forms were found .
. . . Nothing has been observed actually to prey upon Limnoria .
. . . " In colonies of Lirnn01·ia, particularly those that are well
established, polychaetes are not uncommon. Halosydna johnsoni
was very abundant in the infested pilings in Los Angeles Harbor.
Four of the five species of polychaetes known to have eaten
Lirnn01·ia are active non tube-constructing worms. N ereis g·rubei
builds mucoid tubes within the flaky areas of the infested wood.
It extends from its tube to feed, and is capable of leaving for a
new area and constructing a new tube. These five species are
further characterized by the possession of an eversible proboscis
that is protruded during· the process of feeding. Since these
species move about, it is conceivable that they will come in direct
contact with Lirnnoria, in its burrow. However, these polychaetes
al'e not primarily carnivorous but rather omnivorous as indicated
by the material prese11t in their feces. These polychaetes showed
no indication of food preference for Lirnno·ria, but rather those
that were eaten were incidental to their diet. These worms have
a wide ecological distribution and are not r e.tricted to Lirnnoria
infested wood.
Suli•[MARY
1. Polychaetous annelids as associates of Limn01·ia are dis­cussed
for the first time.
2. At Coos Bay Halosydna b1·evisetosa and Nereis vexillosa
were found to have eaten Lirnno·ria lignorurn, but Eulalia avictL­lisetct,
Trypanosyllis adamanteus, Typosyllis sp., and Bocca-rdia.
pToboscidea showed no evidence of having eaten L. ligno1·urn.
3. In Los Angeles Harbor H alosydna johnsoni, Podarke puget­t
ensis, and N ereis gntbei contained Lirnn01·ia t1·ipunctata in th eir
feces, but Eulalia ctViculiseta, N e1·eis la.t escens, Platyne·reis
agassizi, Cin·i[01·rnia lu.xiwrosa, and Polydo·ra. ( Camzzia) pattci­bra.
nchictta showed no evidence of having eaten L. tripunctata ..
226 THE WASMANN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, Vor.. 12, 1954
LITERATURE CITED
H ENDERSON, J. T.
1924. The gribble : A study of the distribution factors and life·
history of Limnoria lignm·urn at St. Andrews, N. B. Con­tribution
to Canadian Biology, new series, 2:309-325.
RATHKE, J .
1799. Jagttagelser h enhpr ende til Indvoldeormenes og Bloddyrenes
Naturhistori e.- af J. Rathke Anmaerkninger ved bisse
Jagttagelser , af Sognepraesten Otho Fabricius. Skrivter at
Naturhistorie-Selskabet, 1:61- 153.

THE WASMANN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY
VoL. 12, No. 2
Polychaetous Annelids as Associates
and Predators of the Crustacean
Wood Borer, Limnoria1
SUMMER, 1954
DONALD J. REISH, Allan Hancock Foundation,
Unive1·sity ot Southent California, Los Angeles 7,
Califo?·nia
Rathke (1799 ) mentioned in connection with the original de­scription
of Limnoria lignorum Rathke that the young of small
nereid polychaetes are the worst enemies of Limnoria because
they are able to enter the burrows and eat the larvae. Since this
report there has been mention neither of his observation by sub­sequent
authors nor of the discovery of any new predators of
Limnoria. It has been considered secure from preying animals
because there were very few animals found associated with it
(Henderson, 1924). Polychaetes as associates of Limnoria have
not been discussed in the past.
It was found that the polychaete N ereis grubei (Kin berg) would
readily eat Limnoria under laboratory conditions. To determine
whether or not polychaetes eat Limnoria in nature, the food
habits of the polychaetes associated with L. lignorum in Coos
Bay, Oregon, and L. tripunctata Menzies in Los Angeles Harbor,
California, were studied. The results of these observations are
reported herein.
The author wishes to thank Dr. Robert J. Menzies for his
assistance identifying the species of Limnoria. To the adminis­tration
of the Allan Hancock Foundation, the author is indebted
for material aid during the course of this study.
I. Contribution number 1.42 from Allan Hancock Foundation, University of Southern
California.
Received for publication January 22 , 1954.
[ 223]
224 THE WASMANN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, VoL. 12, 1954
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Large samples of wood infested with Limn01·ia were collected
from Coos Bay during August, 1950, and from Los Angeles Har­bor
· during September, 1950. The material was brought to the
labor·atory where the polychaetes were taken from the wood.
The worms were then isolated into individual dishes to determine
what each animal had been eating. Fecal pellets of these worms
were collected for a week or more for the identification of undi­gested
material.
OBSERVATIONS
Coos B.H: Six species of polychaetes were taken from pilings
infested with L. ligno1·um. These species were li alosydna brevi­setosa
Kinberg, Eulalia aviculiseta Hartman, T1·ypanosyllis ada­manteus
Treadwell, Typosyllis sp., N ereis vexillosa Grube, and
Bocca·rdia proboscidea Hartman. Exoskeletons of L. lign01·um
were observed in one of seven specimens of H. brevisetosa and five
of nineteen individuals of N. vexillosa. In addition, these worms
had eaten diatoms, other crustaceans, and debris. The remaining
four species showed no evidence of having fed on L. lignorum.
Los ANGELES HARBOR: Eight different species of polychaetes
were found associated with L. tripunctata. These species were
Halosydna johnsoni (Darboux ), Eulalia aviculiseta, Poda1·ke
pugettensis Johnson, N e1·eis grub ei, N. latascens Chamberlin,
Platyne·reis agassizi (Ehlers), Cir·rifonnia luxu1·iosa (Moore),
and Polydom (Camssia) paucibmnchiata Okuda. Exoskeletons
of Limn01·ia tt·ipunctata were present in the feces of two of the
twenty-six specimens of H alosydna johnsoni, one of thirteen in­dividuals
of Podm·ke pugettensis, and two of eleven worms be­longing
to N e1·eis g1·ubei. The fecal pellets of these three species
also contained diatoms, crustacean exoskeletons other than of
L. t1·ipunctata, and debris. The r emaining fiv e species showed no
evidence of having fed on L. tripunctata.
While collecting the infested wood from Los Angeles Harbor,
it was observed that two of the six specimens taken of the poly­clad
turbellarian Leptoplana limn01·iae Hyman [identified by Pr.
r~ . H. Hyman l showed evidence of having eaten L. t?-ipunctata.
ASSOCIATES AND PREDATORS OF LIMNORIA-REISH 225
DISCUSSION
With the exception of the early observation by Rathke referred
to above, there has been no subsequent report of predators of
Limn01·ia. As stated by Henderson ( 1924, p. 319), "Limnoria is
apparently comparatively free from the dangers of parasites or
other preying organisms, as very few associated forms were found .
. . . Nothing has been observed actually to prey upon Limnoria .
. . . " In colonies of Lirnn01·ia, particularly those that are well
established, polychaetes are not uncommon. Halosydna johnsoni
was very abundant in the infested pilings in Los Angeles Harbor.
Four of the five species of polychaetes known to have eaten
Lirnn01·ia are active non tube-constructing worms. N ereis g·rubei
builds mucoid tubes within the flaky areas of the infested wood.
It extends from its tube to feed, and is capable of leaving for a
new area and constructing a new tube. These five species are
further characterized by the possession of an eversible proboscis
that is protruded during· the process of feeding. Since these
species move about, it is conceivable that they will come in direct
contact with Lirnnoria, in its burrow. However, these polychaetes
al'e not primarily carnivorous but rather omnivorous as indicated
by the material prese11t in their feces. These polychaetes showed
no indication of food preference for Lirnno·ria, but rather those
that were eaten were incidental to their diet. These worms have
a wide ecological distribution and are not r e.tricted to Lirnnoria
infested wood.
Suli•[MARY
1. Polychaetous annelids as associates of Limn01·ia are dis­cussed
for the first time.
2. At Coos Bay Halosydna b1·evisetosa and Nereis vexillosa
were found to have eaten Lirnno·ria lignorurn, but Eulalia avictL­lisetct,
Trypanosyllis adamanteus, Typosyllis sp., and Bocca-rdia.
pToboscidea showed no evidence of having eaten L. ligno1·urn.
3. In Los Angeles Harbor H alosydna johnsoni, Podarke puget­t
ensis, and N ereis gntbei contained Lirnn01·ia t1·ipunctata in th eir
feces, but Eulalia ctViculiseta, N e1·eis la.t escens, Platyne·reis
agassizi, Cin·i[01·rnia lu.xiwrosa, and Polydo·ra. ( Camzzia) pattci­bra.
nchictta showed no evidence of having eaten L. tripunctata ..
226 THE WASMANN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY, Vor.. 12, 1954
LITERATURE CITED
H ENDERSON, J. T.
1924. The gribble : A study of the distribution factors and life·
history of Limnoria lignm·urn at St. Andrews, N. B. Con­tribution
to Canadian Biology, new series, 2:309-325.
RATHKE, J .
1799. Jagttagelser h enhpr ende til Indvoldeormenes og Bloddyrenes
Naturhistori e.- af J. Rathke Anmaerkninger ved bisse
Jagttagelser , af Sognepraesten Otho Fabricius. Skrivter at
Naturhistorie-Selskabet, 1:61- 153.